Bear attacks bring warnings to visitors in Smoky Mountains

A woman was attacked by a black bear on Abbott Rd. in Sevierville on Wednesday, according to officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency.

“At around 4:30 p.m., a 90-year-old woman was sitting on a porch swing when she was surprised by a sow bear with three yearlings that came onto her porch,” officials said. “The woman began shaking a lawn chair in an attempt to scare them when the sow scratched her on the arm and the bears fled the area.”

Wildlife officials euthanized the bear and are monitoring the behavior of the yearlings, according to officials.

Another woman and her daughter were injured Sunday morning after a bear ripped into their tent at the Elkmont Campground.

The bear involved in Sunday’s incident was also euthanized, according to officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Park officials said natural food sources are scarce during this time period before the berries ripen. Over the next few weeks, visitors are reminded to be cautious when hiking and camping in bear country. Any aggressive or unusual bear encounter should be reported immediately to park rangers.